• Al Cimaglia

  • Thoughts, Questions and Things that make you go Hmmm

    Thoughts, Questions and Things that make you go Hmmm

    | May 23, 2012

    Playoffs On Sunday, when Los Angeles dropped a 2-0 decision to the Coyotes, Kings head coach Darryl Sutter wasn’t happy. He was especially upset with his power play. In postgame comments, Sutter called out his point men for not getting shots on goal. Sutter didn’t pull any punches, which is his way for the most [...]

  • Are the Blackhawks pursuing Ryan Suter for the wrong reason?

    Are the Blackhawks pursuing Ryan Suter for the wrong reason?

    | May 18, 2012

    CHICAGO (FOX Chicago News) – On July 1, 2008 The Blackhawks made a huge splash in the hockey world and signed free agentdefenseman Brian Campbell. The cost for Campbellwas steep, an eight year contract with an approximate $7.1 million salary cap hit per season. This was a bold move and was done for a couple [...]

  • When will all be well in Blackhawk land?

    When will all be well in Blackhawk land?

    | May 15, 2012

    Chicago (FOX Chicago News) – The teams which are left standing in the NHL post season play a consistent style and they look very comfortable doing so. That is probably why they are still alive in the quest for Lord Stanley. When the going gets tough they stick to their systems for the most part. [...]

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  • Red Wings' goalie Jimmy Howard is a possible candidate to play for Team USA in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Photo by MPR529.

    Howard Making a Case for 2014 Sochi Olympics

    Jimmy Howard and the rest of his Detroit Red Wings’ teammates were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs on April 20, but that hasn’t stopped Howard from continuing his season by representing his country. Howard is currently the number one man between the pipes as a member of Team USA in the 2012 IIHF World [...]

  • Could Parise Become a Red Wing? Not so Fast!

    Could Parise Become a Red Wing? Not so Fast!

    The first day of NHL free agency begins on July 1, which is just weeks away, and expect the Detroit Red Wings to be in the middle of it all. Without a doubt, this will be the most crucial off-season in some time. The last time that the Red Wings struck it rich was in [...]

  • Hockey Independent Playoff Roundtable: Conference Finals Predictions

    Hockey Independent Playoff Roundtable: Conference Finals Predictions

    — Welcome back to the Hockey Independent roundtable where five writers from the HI staff have come together once again to provide you all with our Conference Finals predictions. The contributing authors to today’s piece will be Cris Cohen (New York Rangers), Seth Levin (New Jersey Devils), Alex Muscat (Detroit Red Wings), Bill Philp (Tampa [...]

  • This Seems Familiar

    This Seems Familiar

    On Monday night, the New York Rangers were moments away from having to stave off elimination 2 days later. That is, until Joel Ward of the Washington Capitals took an ill-advised high-sticking double minor for cutting Carl Hagelin. With Henrik Lundqvist pulled for a 2-man advantage, Brad Richards connected with 7.6 seconds to spare to [...]

  • The Dustins – Brown and Penner – talk LA Kings playoff run

    The Dustins – Brown and Penner – talk LA Kings playoff run

    The Kings will finally return to a full practice today after getting some much deserved time off on Monday and Tuesday. Coming off their series sweep of the St. Louis Blues it was time to recharge and recoup. However, during the down time, we did speak by phone with team captain Dustin Brown and the [...]

  • Haviland Out, It’s All on Coach Q. Now

    Haviland Out, It’s All on Coach Q. Now

    Chicago (FOX Chicago News) – Let’s start off with some good news which came out of Tuesday’s media conference call after the firing of assistant coach Mike Haviland. For all those worried about Joel Quenneville being dismissed as head coach to take the same position in Montreal, that’s not happening. Quenneville stated he wants to [...]

  • Boston Bruins’ Postseason Report Cards: Part II: The Bottom Six

    Boston Bruins’ Postseason Report Cards: Part II: The Bottom Six

    Throughout the month of May, I will be providing you all with a six-part Boston Bruins’ postseason review, grading the performances of each and every player that donned the eight-spoked “B” during the 2011-’12 campaign. The schedule looks like this: Part I –> Top Six Forwards Part II –> Bottom Six Forwards Part III –> [...]

  • Internal squabbles costly for Rocky Wirtz, Blackhawks fans

    Internal squabbles costly for Rocky Wirtz, Blackhawks fans

    Chicago (FOX Chicago News) – When players don’t perform adequately the results are obvious and there is little mystery. When a team’s shortcomings are brought about by mismanagement the cause of problems isn’t as apparent. In the NHL when a head coach and GM aren’t on the same page and a plan of action appears [...]

  • Coyotes Eliminate the Predators With a 2-1 Win

    Coyotes Eliminate the Predators With a 2-1 Win

    Backs against the wall. Desperate. No tomorrow. Pick whatever cliche that you want, this is where the Predators find themselves against the Phoenix Coyotes. The task before them is monumental as they had to win a game at Jobing.com Arena in front of an amped up crowd of Coyote faithful. The Predators task was simple. [...]

  • Boston Bruins’ Postseason Report Cards: Part I: The Top Six

    Boston Bruins’ Postseason Report Cards: Part I: The Top Six

    Vacation. Relaxation. Warm weather. Spending time with family. Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, these wonderful conjectures that encompass the summer season have arrived in the Hub far earlier than many of us expected. Now a week and a half removed from Boston’s game seven loss at the hands of the Washington Capitals at TD Garden [...]

  • Predators Backs Against the Wall With 1-0 Loss

    Predators Backs Against the Wall With 1-0 Loss

    The Nashville Predators dropped a 1-0 game to the Phoenix Coyotes at the Bridgestone Arena to fall behind in their series 3-1. To say their backs are against the wall is an understatement. The Predators offense was ineffective and rarely threatened Phoenix netminder Mike Smith. When they did threaten, Smith was equal to the task [...]

  • Andy Greene:  Underappreciated and Overlooked, But Shines in Playoffs for New Jersey Devils

    Andy Greene: Underappreciated and Overlooked, But Shines in Playoffs for New Jersey Devils

    He doesn’t put up the stat line of Erik Karlsson, doesn’t  have the size of Zdeno Chara or the shot of Shea Weber, but make no mistake about it, Andy Greene is a big part of the success the New Jersey Devils have had this season.  Undrafted out of the Miami University (Ohio), Greene has [...]

  • Bolland on Trading Block – Hawks Will Pursue Suter??

    Bolland on Trading Block – Hawks Will Pursue Suter??

    Chicago (FOX Chicago News) – Blackhawk fans looking for some real change may enjoy this summer. For the first time since the 2010 Stanley Cup parade there appears to be a solid chance a core player will be dealt. If my source is correct, and he has been frequently in the past, third line center [...]

  • Photo taken seconds before the Rangers are told they don't get paid extra for overtime.

    NYR 2 WSH 1 – 3OT

    I’ve loved the game of hockey for over 40 years. Yeah, I’m old. But there have been a lot of times, particularly in the late nineties/early aughts that I felt the love was unrequited. Then there was last night in the Verizon Center. This was a game that really didn’t decide anything – it was [...]